Affinity Groups

You've got a friend in "we." :)

An affinity group is a voluntary member resource group within NATS that enables members to meet together and build connections based on shared characteristics or interests.

Several groups have formed, and there are plans to establish more groups in the future based on membership interest. Members who wish to join one of the affinity groups should contact the leader(s) for more information.

• Independent and Multi-Teacher Studio Owner Affinity Group

  • Leader: Rebecca Pieper
  • Do you own your own studio? Whether you are an independent or a multi-teacher studio owner or you are curious about it, we invite you to join us! The Independent and Multi-Teacher Studio Owner Affinity Group welcomes all members of our NATS community who own or are interested in owning their own studio. This is a great space for teachers to connect with others in a similar business structure and network, brainstorm, collaborate, ask questions, learn from, educate, hold accountable and cheer each other on!
  • Facebook Group
    

• Black Perspectives @ NATS Affinity Group

  • Leaders: Marcía Porter and Darryl Taylor
  • Black Perspectives @ NATS is an affinity group for those who identify as members of the African diaspora. Recognizing the need for a space to share our unique experiences and encourage mentorship, the group welcomes Black singers and those in fields related to the vocal arts (voice teachers, coaches, collaborative musicians, and academicians) to engage in meaningful discussion and fellowship. Our goal is to foster collaboration, create a sense of community, as well as offer networking opportunities.
  • Facebook Group

• Latinx/Hispanic Teachers Affinity Group

  • Leader: Lily Guerrero
  • The Latinx/Hispanic Teachers Affinity Group is for those who identify as Latinx or Hispanic and are looking for a place to create community, network, and find potential performance or research partners. This space will be an area for those who want to discuss unique facets in the lived experiences of Latinx/Hispanic teachers as well as brainstorm new ideas to share with the NATS community that celebrate and uplift our culture.
  • Facebook Group

• Adjunct Voice Teachers Affinity Group

  • Leader: Melissa Chavez
  • The Adjunct Voice Teachers Affinity Group is for those teaching voice at the college level on a part-time basis. It is a supportive community to discuss the issues unique to adjunct voice teaching, including mutual respect at the workplace, commitment to students beyond compensation, and broadening our network. We look to celebrate the success of our students, our teaching, and our institutions by strengthening our common bonds.
  • Facebook Group

• Asian and Asian Pacific Affinity (AAPA) Group

  • Leaders: Ayumi Nakamae and Katie Tupper
  • The Asian and Asian Pacific Affinity (AAPA) Group is for those who are from or affiliated with those regions of the globe. We represent a rich and diverse diasporic community where we can network, create fellowship, share research and pedagogical interests, and help provide a resource to those teachers who teach AAPA students.
  • Facebook Group

• NATS Group-Voice Pedagogy Affinity Group  

  • Leaders: Amelia Rollings Bigler and Clifton Ware
  • The NATS Group-Voice Pedagogy Affinity Group will be dedicated to studying, researching, teaching, and promoting all modes of group-voice instruction, with particular attention given to exploring a wide range of information and skills intended for class-voice instruction for educational institutions, private voice studios, and community education. Basic class-voice information — methods, techniques, and subject matter applicable to developing mind-body-voice integration and efficient, expressive, and effective voice performance — will be explored and applied in other modes of group-voice instruction, including voice ensembles, shared lessons (2-4 students), studio classes, and group singing. Open to all NATS members.

• Voice Teachers for Children and Youth Affinity Group

  • Leader: Dana Lentini 
  • Do you teach children and youth or do you train teachers that will one day work with this age demographic? This affinity group is designed to create a safe discussion space and most importantly to provide NATS Leaders with valuable feedback on challenges and advances in pedagogy and opportunities for pubescent and pre-pubescent singers. Our youngest singers are not only the future of our global singing community but also a way to boost clientele for voice teachers. Additionally, our young singers have the potential to be future members and leaders within our national organization. Creating a voice teaching model that welcomes and includes children is a win-win-win for teachers, students, and NATS.
  • Facebook Group

• Queer Affinity Group

  • Leader: Anna Diemer
  • The NATS Queer Affinity Group welcomes members who identify as queer or may be questioning their identity. Our aim is to foster dialogue, understanding, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ representation within NATS and the singing community as well as provide a space for networking and support.

• Mothers in Academia

  • Leader: Grace Edgar
  • We believe that women are marginalized in academia, even more so when they become mothers, and to an even greater extent in the field of performing arts. We want to bring awareness to the issues of discrimination against mothers in performing arts academia in order to create more diverse and inclusive educational institutions. As mothers ourselves working in performing arts academia, we want to dispel the myth that academics cannot be mothers, and provide encouragement to women who feel pressured to choose between their career or their children.
  • Facebook Group

Interested in forming a new affinity group?

See the steps to get started, fill out the form, and submit it to the NATS Vice President of Outreach. 

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